Maelan mac Cathmogha
Encyclopedia
Origins
Maelan appears to be one of the earliest recorded kings of the territory of Maigh SeolaMaigh Seola
Maigh Seola was a term used to describe the land along the east shore of Lough Corrib in County Galway, Ireland. It was bounded by the Uí Maine vassal kingdom of Soghain. Its rulers up to the 1220s were the Muintir Murchada, who took the surname O'Flaherty...
, later known as Uí Briúin Seóla. He is not recorded in the genealogies, of which Francis John Byrne
Francis John Byrne
Francis John Byrne is an Irish historian.Born in Shanghai where his father, a Dundalk man, captained a ship on the Yellow River, Byrne was evacuated with his mother to Australia on the outbreak of World War II...
has this to say:
The Uí BriúinUí BriúinThe Uí Briúin were an Irish kin-group. Their eponymous apical ancestor was Brion, son of Eochaid Mugmedon and Mongfind, and an elder half brother of Niall of the Nine Hostages. They formed part of the Connachta, along with the Uí Fiachrach and Uí Ailello, putative descendants of Eochaid Mugmedon's...
pedigrees show every sign of falsification ... Uí Briúin Seóla of the TuamTuamTuam is a town in County Galway, Ireland. The name is pronounced choo-um . It is situated west of the midlands of Ireland, and north of Galway city.-History:...
area in County GalwayCounty GalwayCounty Galway is a county in Ireland. It is located in the West Region and is also part of the province of Connacht. It is named after the city of Galway. Galway County Council is the local authority for the county. There are several strongly Irish-speaking areas in the west of the county...
... trace their separate descent though lines of unrecorded or dubious ancestors to BriónBriónBrión is a municipality of Spain in the Province of A Coruña, in the autonomous community of Galicia. It has an area of , and a population of 7,347 inhabitants .-References:...
or his suppositious son Dauí (Dauí Tenga UmaDauí Tenga UmaDauí Tenga Uma mac Briúin was a King of Connacht from the Uí Briúin branch of the Connachta.-Biography:He was the son of the ancestor of this branch Brión and grandson of the high-king Echu Mugmedón. He appears to be the same person as Dauí Galach mentioned in the genealogies...
) in the fifth century; ... such an adoption guaranteed them the tribute-free status of sáer-thuatha and ensured that Uí Briúin power should stretch from the ShannonRiver ShannonThe River Shannon is the longest river in Ireland at . It divides the west of Ireland from the east and south . County Clare, being west of the Shannon but part of the province of Munster, is the major exception...
to Clew BayClew BayClew Bay is a natural ocean bay in County Mayo, Ireland. It contains Ireland's best example of sunken drumlins. According to tradition, there is an island in the bay for every day of the year. The bay is overlooked by Croagh Patrick, Ireland's holy mountain, and the mountains of North Mayo. Clare...
.
Thus it would appear that Maelan, and by implication his possible descendants, the Muintir Murchada
Muintir Murchada
Muintir Murchada was the name of an Irish territory which derived its name from the ruling dynasty, who were in turn a branchh of the Uí Briúin. The name was derived from Murchadh mac Maenach, King of Uí Briúin Seóla, who died 891.-Overview:...
, were political allies and not blood-relatives of the Uí Briúin. Magh Seola was surrounded to the east by the Soghain
Soghain
The Soghain were a people of ancient Ireland. Dubhaltach Mac Fhirbhisigh identified them as part of a larger group called the Cruithin, and stated of them:...
and the Uí Maine; to the south Máenmaige
Máenmaige
Máenmaige was a originally a kingdom, later termed a trícha cét, and in Anglo-Norman times a cantred, which formed the barony of Loughrea.-Early historic rulers:It was first under the control of Ui Fhiachrach Fionn, and later by the Uí Maine...
and the Uí Fiachrach Aidhne
Uí Fiachrach Aidhne
Uí Fhiachrach Aidhne was a kingdom located in what is now the south of Co. Galway.-Legendary origins and geography:...
; to the west by the Delbhna Tir Dha Locha
Delbhna Tir Dha Locha
Dealbhne Thíre Dhá Loch was a tuath of Gaelic Ireland, located in the west of what is now Co. Galway, Ireland. It is now called Connemara-Overview:It was ruled by the Mac Conraoi clann...
; to the north and far north-west, the Conmhaícne.
The Viking Wars
In the first half of the 9th century, IrelandIreland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
experienced raids by Vikings. Some occurred in Connacht:
- 812812Year 812 was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Julian calendar.- Europe :* The second Battle of Roncevaux Pass is fought between the Basques and the Franks....
- A slaughter of the heathens by the men of Umall (Clew BayClew BayClew Bay is a natural ocean bay in County Mayo, Ireland. It contains Ireland's best example of sunken drumlins. According to tradition, there is an island in the bay for every day of the year. The bay is overlooked by Croagh Patrick, Ireland's holy mountain, and the mountains of North Mayo. Clare...
). A slaughter of the Conmhaícne by the heathens. - 813813Year 813 was a common year starting on Saturday of the Julian calendar."813" may also refer to a duology of novels by Maurice Leblanc, starring his gentleman thief Arsène Lupin.- Byzantine Empire :...
- The slaughter at Umall by the heathens in which fell Coscrach son of Flannabra and Dúnadach, king of Umall. - 835835Year 835 was a common year starting on Friday of the Julian calendar.- Europe :* Ragnar Lodbrok rises to power ....
-All the country of Connaught was likewise desolated by them. - 837837Year 837 was a common year starting on Monday of the Julian calendar.- Europe :* Pietro Tradonico is elected Doge of Venice.* Uen succeeds Drest IV as king of the Picts....
- A battle was gained by the Gentiles over the Connaughtmen, wherein was slain Maelduin, son of Muirgius mac TommaltaigMuirgius mac TommaltaigMuirgius mac Tommaltaig was a King of Connacht from the Uí Briúin branch of the Connachta. He was the great-grandson of Indrechtach mac Muiredaig Muillethan , a previous king. The death of his father Tommaltach mac Murgail is recorded in the annals where he is called king of Mag nAi. Muirgius...
, with numbers of others along with him. - 843843Year 843 was a common year starting on Monday of the Julian calendar.- Europe :* The Treaty of Verdun divides the Carolingian Empire between the 3 sons of Louis the Pious .* Kenneth I , King of the Scots, also becomes King of the Picts, thus becoming the first...
- An expedition by TurgesiusTurgesiusTurgesius was a Viking chief active in Ireland who is said to have conquered Dublin. It is not at all clear whether the names in the Irish annals represent the Old Norse Thurgestr or Thorgísl...
, lord of the foreigners, upon Loch Ribh (Lough ReeLough ReeLough Ree is a lake in the midlands of Ireland, the second of the three major lakes on the River Shannon. Lough Ree is the second largest lake on the Shannon after Lough Derg. The other two major lakes are Lough Allen to the north, and Lough Derg to the south, there are also several minor lakes...
, so that they plundered ConnaughtConnachtConnacht , formerly anglicised as Connaught, is one of the Provinces of Ireland situated in the west of Ireland. In Ancient Ireland, it was one of the fifths ruled by a "king of over-kings" . Following the Norman invasion of Ireland, the ancient kingdoms were shired into a number of counties for...
and MeathKingdom of MideMide , spelt Midhe in modern Irish and anglicised as Meath, was a medieval kingdom in Ireland for over 1,000 years. Its name means "middle", denoting the fact that lay in the middle of Ireland....
, and burned Cluain Mic Nois (ClonmacnoiseClonmacnoiseThe monastery of Clonmacnoise is situated in County Offaly, Ireland on the River Shannon south of Athlone....
, with its oratories, Cluain Fearta Brenainn, (ClonfertClonfertClonfert is a small village in east County Galway, Ireland. It is half way between Ballinasloe and Portumna.Clonfert Cathedral is situated in the village, which is the see of the Diocese of Clonfert.-See also:* List of towns and villages in Ireland...
), Tir Da Ghlas (TerryglassTerryglassTerryglass is a village in North Tipperary, Ireland. The village is located on the R493 regional road on the north-eastern shore of Lough Derg near where the River Shannon enters the Lough. It is a civil parish in the historical barony of Ormond Lower. It is also an Ecclesiastical parish in the...
), Lothra (LorrhaLorrhaLorrha is a small village at the northern tip of North Tipperary, Ireland. It is located on a local minor road between the R489 Birr to Portumna road and the N65 Nenagh to Portumna road about five kilometres east of the point where the River Shannon enters Lough Derg. It is a townland and a civil...
), and many others in like manner. - 844844Year 844 was a leap year starting on Tuesday of the Julian calendar.- Europe :* Rhodri Mawr becomes king of Gwynedd....
- A battle was gained over the Connaughtmen by the foreigners, in which Riagan, son of Fearghus; Mughron, son of Diarmaid; and Aedh, son of Catharnach, with many others, were slain. - 847847Year 847 was a common year starting on Saturday of the Julian calendar.- Europe :* Bari is captured by the Saracens....
- A fleet of seven score ships of the people of the king of the foreigners came to contend with the foreigners that were in Ireland before them, so that they disturbed Ireland between them.
During one such episode in 848
848
Year 848 was a leap year starting on Sunday of the Julian calendar.- Europe :* The Saracens destroy Leontini.* Charles the Bald, Louis the German and Lothar meet in Koblenz....
, Maelan was slain by the foreigners. He is anachronistically referred to as lord of Ui Briuin of South Connaught.